Moist Zucchini Pineapple Bread Recipe

This Zucchini pineapple bread recipe with applesauce is so amazing!! The best way to make moist zucchini bread with fruit in it! Each slice brings a great sweetness naturally with pineapple tidbits for breakfast or dessert this week.

Pineapple Zucchini Bread Recipe

It had been a long time since I made a loaf of this but when summer arrives we have a lot of zucchini in our vegetable garden. The more you grow, the more great recipes you can make each season. Yes you can buy them in the store too but when we get a craving to bake in the oven or make air fryer zucchini bread this is our fave.

It’s a rather cheap vegetable if you need to purchase a few, and full of water. The biggest secret to the best zucchini bread is making sure you absorb a lot of that moisture. It will weigh it down and thin out the batter. I will show you how to do that below. Use it to make our pumpkin zucchini muffins ad this to get raving reviews from everyone.

One Loaf Zucchini Pineapple Bread

Just cut recipe in half if you just want one. You will need about one zucchini and about a half of a cup of crushed pineapple. If you have a fresh pineapple that is great, if not a can of pineapple tidbits will do, that is typically what I use. Because of the added fruit it won’t rise quite as much as a traditional loaf, it will look like you see above.

How does pineapple affect baking?

Why I include pineapple is that you can use less oil, it brings an added sweetness, and makes it more moist too. I guess I just also love all the island flavors too because I was born in Hawaii and it was everywhere. It will make your bread more dense, keep that in mind, but it is worth it……..

Use the tidbits from the can or you can chop up larger pieces into about that size. I’ve modified this recipe several times throughout the year but this one is just spot on and haven’t altered it since.

If you have an ample amount of zucchini or are looking for ways to incorporate more veggies into your or your child’s diet this is a great recipe for you. They will never know it is in there, totally hidden, but they will notice how fluffy and tasty they are.Here’s why we love it and how to make it.

This makes two loaf pans so I usually keep one and freeze one. Once defrosted for the second loaf it tastes just as moist as when it was just baked. Enjoy. There’s a video below showing you how I make it, I suggest you watch that first.

Ingredients

1. Zucchini – if you grow some in your garden this is a great way to use it
   1. shredded and paper towels to absorb liquid
2. Flour – this is how to measure flour properly
3. Brown sugar
4. Baking soda
5. Baking powder
6. Sugar
7. Eggs
8. Vegetable oil
9. Applesauce – makes it moister
10. Pineapple – I use pineapple tidbits without pineapple juice in a can
11. Vanilla
12. Almond extract – optional but we love the addition
13. Chopped walnuts are optional

You will want a large bowl for wet and a small for flour mixture. If you are only making one loaf, divide batter in half and just make one. It does freeze well though if you want to save one for later.

Add all wet ingredients: eggs, sugars, and oil in 1 bowl and mix on low or by hand.  Add all dry ingredients into a different bowl, stir, then combine slowly together with the wet. That isn’t any different than baking any other quick bread of sorts but is important to do separately to get the right texture.

Do you peel zucchini before shredding for bread?

NO, that will help it stay together. You will need to remove a lot of the moisture though. Just use a grater to shred on top of a few paper towels folded up. Then fold the shreds up inside and gently press down with hands to remove excess water. This is a must step, don’t skip over it or it will sink to the bottom and make the bread dense and sticky.

Do you squeeze out the liquid from zucchini for bread?

There likely isn’t enough water to make it drip but yes I typically will roll it up into a few paper towels and press down over the sink in case it is a very wet one. You don’t want to smash them and break into pieces but also don’t want to add more water into your batter either.

Gently fold in your shredded zucchini and pineapple tidbits into your batter. Now preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 2 loaf pans with non stick spray or lay a piece of parchment paper inside. Pour mixture in (half full) or fill muffin pan with papers inside 3/4 full each.

How to Make Zucchini Bread with Pineapple

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another. Incorporate together with fruit and vegetables folded in at the end. Time to bake at 350 degrees is about 50 minutes or until golden brown on top. (ovens vary so check at 45 minutes and cook longer if needed). When toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with some crumbs attached it is done. (don’t want to over bake) 

Can you bake this into muffins?

This is how long to bake mini muffins which are really fun sizes too in about 11 minutes. For regular sizes you are looking at closer to 18 minutes at 350 F. where jumbo are at 22 minutes or so. When the center springs back they are done, then remove from hot muffin tin and set on cooling rack for moist bites.

How do You Store Leftover Zucchini Bread?

You are going to have to allow this to completely cool in pans. Best to place on wire racks to cool, then remove and slice. This may take 30 minutes for loaves but is an important step to come to room temperature and continue to cook yet stay moist. If you don’t eat it all remember to only slice what you’re going to eat.

It will stay moist longer if kept in one larger piece. Slide what you have left into a freezer bag and suck all of the air out of it. That is important, air is the enemy. For best results keep on the countertop for a few days and cut when you’re ready to enjoy again. To stay fresh longer put into the fridge but that will dry it out easier.

What to Make with A Lot of Zucchini

• If you haven’t tried a batch of tempura batter salt and pepper zucchini chips you’re missing out!
• We love zucchini blueberry muffins and apple zucchini muffins for sure.
• Our latest creation of air fryer zucchini chips are probably our favorite snacks.

If you do plan to grow them they are great, but you do get a lot. Make sure you check every other day at least because they grow fast and not as good once they get beyond a medium size. Larger means more water and less flavor.